During our road trip in the southwest last winter, we started scheming what we wanted to do for the upcoming year. With Alana being pregnant in 2022, along with all the wildfires and smoke, we hadn’t done as much hiking or trips out as we would have liked to do. So we thought, “what is something big that we could do with a baby?” We shot around a few ideas, maybe making another attempt (for me) across the Brooks Range or perhaps floating down the Yukon River. We ended up eventually deciding on hiking the length of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Alana spent months on the trail years ago in a different capacity, working as part of a trail crew on trail maintenance and since then has always had the dream of hiking it. It seemed like the perfect option, a big trip, in an environment less rugged than what we’re used to and with frequent spots along the way for resupply. So with that settled, we played the permit lottery, and won a permit heading southbound in early July.
Our idea to hike southbound is traditionally different than the norm, with 90% of PCT hikers heading north to Canada from the Mexican border. There is no real reason for this disparity, so we elected to use it to our advantage, choosing to hike opposite the crowd having no interest in partying or hiking in a massive group of hikers. This choice ended up working out in our favor to an even greater degree with the tremendous amount of snow that fell on the Sierras last winter, leaving many NOBO hikers to change or cancel their plans along the trail. As a result of that, our hike may be more social than it otherwise would in other years.
Shortly after receiving the permit, we came upon some unique scenarios, compared to the average thru-hiker, that we’d have to account for due to travelling with Din. What is the best way to carry her? What is our diaper strategy? How do we keep her dry? Having travelled extensively in Alaska’s backcountry, we both feel comfortable hiking and travelling in remote terrain and with the physical challenges involved. So, our focus turned to figuring out how we can best prepare ourselves so that Din doesn’t have any issues.
There’s not much on the internet regarding long term wilderness travel with babies. Turns out most people don’t go thru-hiking or backpacking with their 9 month old. We found one couple who hiked the Appalachian Trail with their infant, but otherwise the only other thing we could find was a family on the PCT that hiked with three toddlers. Elsewhere, we’ve taken inspiration from Erin and Hig’s remote trips throughout Alaska by foot and packraft with their children. We know that it is possible, given that for the bulk of human history, such activities were the norm. As my friend Cody put it: “You mean you are going to make a journey similar to many of our human ancestors (also had baby in tow), but with all of the safety nets of your wilderness competence using modern equipment, wilderness skills honed in an objectively harsher environment, modern communication technology, modern medicine, food resources, and general societal infrastructure on a well-trodden route with many other hikers out there and the option to bail at basically any point if something happens?”
Slowly we came upon a strategy for Din and started focusing on physical training and our resupply plan. We spent a few months of the winter in Port Townsend, WA and began increasing our frequency of weighted rucks per week. After coming back home, we started hiking around the neighborhood and up to the top of Moose Mt as much as we could. Often, we fell short of our training plan, mostly due to a lack of energy from sleeplessness that comes with living with a 9 mo old baby.
We have learned that once you have a baby, many people like to tell you how you should live your life. Other people’s reactions to us doing this have been interesting to say the least. We receive probably about 2/3 negative reaction and 1/3 positive. Most people give us a look of disbelief, don’t say anything for a few seconds and then ask if we are going to bring the baby too. We’ve had snarky comments from others saying things like “With the baby? That sounds like a blast” and also others telling us we can’t hike that far/Din can’t stay that long in a pack and betting that they will see us in August. Family, friends, strangers and the receptionist in the doctor’s office. We feel confident in what we are doing and have tested everything many times over before. If we stayed home and gave our daughter an ipad for 3 hours a day most people wouldn’t bat an eye, but somehow walking and living outside is the worst thing in the world.
At the end of May we started preparing our food. Our plan was a hybrid mix consisting of roughly 2/3 sending boxes of pre-prepared food and 1/3 shopping in towns with big grocery stores. We were/are not interested in eating like the average thru-hiker on a diet full of processed food and sugar, so we ended up making most of our food ourselves.
On July 9, we start heading south from Hart’s Pass in northern Washington. After months of preparation and training, it will be great to finally start walking. If able, I plan on making infrequent updates along the way. See you further down the trail!
Love it! Wish you all the best and can’t wait to hear more about it. If anyone can do this it’s you and Alana!
Jack, Alana, and Din,
What a great adventure! Sounds like a great plan. I just got around to reading Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods account of his stab at the Appalachian Trail which gives me a context for the distance you’re covering and the proximity of towns when you need them. I’m guessing the PCT will have less water and more elevation change. Exciting!
Gotta say I love 3 quotes in your post:
— your friend’s description of your trip. It’s what it is!
— people love to give you their opinions when you have a baby. Uh-huh!
— giving your baby an iPad is normal, hiking with her is not. Too true, sadly.
I told Daniel about your trek during our phone call today. He said when you’re passing through the San Francisco area, he’d love to intersect with you two in whatever way suits. He and Suzie just got back from a backpacking trip in Glacier N.P. You may hear from him before you head out. Or contact him yourself if you like.
Happy hiking and Godspeed!
Love to the three of you,
Aunt MC